Canada Attacks First Nation Children’s Future

by mmnationtalk onOctober 3, 2012572 Views

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CANADA ATTACKS FIRST NATION CHILDREN’S FUTURE

October 3, 2012

Toronto, ON — The Canadian government is using a deliberate game of smoke and mirrors to mislead Canadians about the current funding for First Nations schools. Long-term funding inequity in First Nation education has already been confirmed by Canada’s own Auditor-General, as well as the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

Chiefs in Ontario vehemently dispute the misleading information from Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada (AANDC) which suggests First Nation schools are adequately funded. Chiefs of Ontario challenge Canada regarding the spending per pupil figures released by AANDC as seriously skewed and inaccurate because they include unallocated funding, departmental administrative costs and other amounts not included in provincial comparative figures.

Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy stated, “Canada is comparing apples to oranges, and Chiefs in Ontario are angered by the efforts to spin information rather than to step up as our willing partner to properly fund our childrens’ education. No other children in Canada are treated with such disregard, even contempt by the party responsible for funding their education. First Nations education is a human and Treaty right that is being willfully ignored to the detriment of our children and their future.”

The Chiefs in Ontario serve notice that Canada’s days of spinning information and abdication of responsibility regarding First Nation children’s education are over.

The Chiefs of Ontario is a political forum and secretariat for collective decision making, action and advocacy for the 133 First Nation communities located within the boundaries of the province of Ontario.